Europe's grids underestimate renewables' potential
POWER & RENEWABLE ENERGY

Europe's grids underestimate renewables' potential

According to a recent report by the energy think tank EMBER Climate, there's a worrying trend as many national grid plans underestimate the potential of wind and solar deployment, which poses a significant risk to the smooth integration of renewables.

It's noted in the report that out of the 26 grid plans examined, 11 fail to accurately project wind and solar deployment compared to national targets. This raises concerns about whether transmission networks can adequately handle the expected increase in renewable energy installations.

Moreover, there's a troubling estimate that by 2030, around 205 GW of solar capacity might face grid congestion due to 19 out of 23 national grid plans falling short of meeting the benchmarks set by SolarPower Europe's business-as-usual scenario.

Adding to these challenges is the underestimation of annual grid investment, as highlighted by REPowerEU, indicating a shortfall of at least ?5 billion. This emphasises the necessity for additional spending to ensure that grids can effectively support energy policy goals.

The report assesses the current status and potential improvements of national transmission grids across Europe within the context of the energy transition. By evaluating data from transmission networks in 35 European countries, including the EU-27, Norway, Switzerland, the UK, and the Western Balkans, the analysis reveals a concerning reality: several grid plans are based on conservative energy scenarios.

This conservative approach risks leaving transmission networks ill-prepared to accommodate the projected expansion of wind and solar energy installations, which could hinder the progress of the energy transition.

An examination of 35 national grid development plans from European Transmission System Operators (TSOs) shows that planned network developments often lag behind in understanding the realities of the energy transition.

According to a recent report by the energy think tank EMBER Climate, there's a worrying trend as many national grid plans underestimate the potential of wind and solar deployment, which poses a significant risk to the smooth integration of renewables. It's noted in the report that out of the 26 grid plans examined, 11 fail to accurately project wind and solar deployment compared to national targets. This raises concerns about whether transmission networks can adequately handle the expected increase in renewable energy installations. Moreover, there's a troubling estimate that by 2030, around 205 GW of solar capacity might face grid congestion due to 19 out of 23 national grid plans falling short of meeting the benchmarks set by SolarPower Europe's business-as-usual scenario. Adding to these challenges is the underestimation of annual grid investment, as highlighted by REPowerEU, indicating a shortfall of at least ?5 billion. This emphasises the necessity for additional spending to ensure that grids can effectively support energy policy goals. The report assesses the current status and potential improvements of national transmission grids across Europe within the context of the energy transition. By evaluating data from transmission networks in 35 European countries, including the EU-27, Norway, Switzerland, the UK, and the Western Balkans, the analysis reveals a concerning reality: several grid plans are based on conservative energy scenarios. This conservative approach risks leaving transmission networks ill-prepared to accommodate the projected expansion of wind and solar energy installations, which could hinder the progress of the energy transition. An examination of 35 national grid development plans from European Transmission System Operators (TSOs) shows that planned network developments often lag behind in understanding the realities of the energy transition.

Next Story
Infrastructure Energy

GAIL to Set Up Bengaluru CBG Plant Under New Concession Pact

GAIL (India) Limited has signed a 20-year concession agreement with the Bengaluru City Municipal Corporation (BBMP) to set up a compressed biogas (CBG) plant in the city. The project, expected to produce around 10 tonnes of CBG daily, will utilise municipal solid waste as feedstock, contributing to clean energy generation and efficient waste management. The CBG produced will be used in GAIL’s City Gas Distribution network to promote cleaner fuel usage. The initiative aligns with the government’s Sustainable Alternative Towards Affordable Transportation (SATAT) scheme and GAIL’s broader ..

Next Story
Infrastructure Energy

Uttarakhand HC Lifts 31-Year Ban on ONGC’s Contractual Hiring

The Uttarakhand High Court has lifted a 31-year-old ban on the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) from hiring contractual workers, a restriction imposed in 1993. The decision enables ONGC’s Dehradun establishment to employ personnel on a contractual basis to meet operational requirements. The long-standing prohibition had limited ONGC’s ability to fill vacancies in its technical and administrative departments, often leading to project delays and higher dependence on outsourcing. With the court’s directive, the public sector enterprise can now proceed with temporary recruitments whil..

Next Story
Infrastructure Energy

JSW Energy’s Utkal Unit Bags 400 MW, 25-Year Power Supply Deal

JSW Energy Limited announced that its subsidiary, JSW Energy (Utkal) Limited, has secured a Letter of Award (LoA) from Karnataka’s Power Company of Karnataka Limited (PCKL) for the supply of 400 MW of electricity for 25 years. The agreement is part of a competitive bidding process for long-term procurement of power to meet the state’s growing energy demand. The 400 MW capacity will be supplied from JSW Energy’s upcoming thermal power project in Odisha. This development strengthens JSW Energy’s presence in the southern market and aligns with its strategy to enhance long-term contracte..

Advertisement

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Get daily newsletters around different themes from Construction world.

STAY CONNECTED

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Talk to us?